The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

476.   EDWAED SULLIVAN (20) , Robbery with violence on   Edward Hubbard, and stealing 15s. 6d. his money.

MR. WALLACE Prosecuted; and MR. HUTTON Defended.

  EDWARD HUBBARD . I am a labourer, of 50, Newman-Street, Oxford-Street—on 15th April, about 1. 15,1 was in Tottenham Court Road, I had a ham bone wrapped in newspaper—at the corner of Stephen Street some girls came from behind me and knocked it from under my arm—I said "Don't waste it; it is for my breakfast to-morrow morning and my wife's"—the prisoner and five or six men set on me—I called out "Police; "two policemen came up and they all ran away except the prisoner; they told him to get away and he went—I stood with the prisoner five or six minutes, and then, thinking I was safe, I went on, but at the corner of Percy Street out came the prisoner again, and hit me on my mouth, tripped me up, and over goes I on my back—two more men were with him, they kicked me on my ribs and got on top of me, and I felt the prisoner's hand in my trousers pocket, where I had 15s. 6d.—it was safe after I was attacked the first time—they got up and ran away, I kept my eye on the prisoner, he ran down Percy Street, I ran after him calling "Stop thief!" and when I got a little way down I found a policeman holding him.

Cross-examined. I never saw the ham bone again—Stephen Street is about 70 yards from Percy Street, where they all three ran out, and the prisoner hit me and tripped me up—I was kicked while I was on the ground—I struck the prisoner in the chest—I just got hold of him, but let go when I was kicked—it was 12.55 when I left my father-in-law's house—I had been to my club, and had some drink there—when the constable was holding the prisoner I charged him with stealing the 18s. 6d

  HENRY FLETCHER (Policeman D R 48). On 15th April, about 2 a. m., I was in Percy Street in plain clothes, and saw the prisoner running towards me—he ran against another man, and fell on the kerb—I got hold of him, and said "What is the matter?"—Hubbard came up, and said "I charge this man with robbing and assaulting me"—an officer in uniform came up, and we took the prisoner to the station—he said "Search me, I have not got anything on me"—nothing was found on him.

Cross-examined. Hubbard charged him with assault and robbery, but said nothing about the 15s. till he got to the station—he was sober—the prisoner gave a correct address.

The Prisoner's Statement before the Magistrate. "I was coming round Percy-Street by myself, when the prosecutor got me by my collar, and said 'You are the one that got me down;' he turned me round and

knocked me down on the back of my head and cut it open, and got away; I ran away, and halloaed 'Stop thief!' A man held me till a constable came."

E HUBBARD (Re-examined). I had a watch and chain on; they were not taken. Witness for the Defence.

  AMY HAINES . I live in High Street, and go out cleaning—I have known the prisoner five years—he had been at my father's house on the morning of 15th April, and he was walking with a young girl, and I was a few yards behind them—I saw nothing happen between the prosecutor and the prisoner—we walked right down Tottenham Court Road, and left him at Clayton Street at 1.55 by the jeweller's clock in Tottenham Court Road—I did not see him speak to anybody—I saw him walk down Cornwall Street.

Cross-examined. I heard something about a ham-bone that night—I did not have a conversation with a policeman after that—the occurrence with the ham-bone took place two doors from Stephen Street—the prisoner lives on the floor above me—after I went home I went out again—I went upstairs, and my sister said he had not come in—he did not go in with me.

Re-examined He is a shoemaker; he bears a respectable character.

By the JURY. The prisoner threw a ham-bone at me—he said "I have got a ham; don't waste it; there are 2 lbs. of ham for you"—I picked it up, and said "What have you done this for? I don't know you"—he said "It is all right"—I saw a policeman after that, who said "Get away," and he said "We know all about you; you are a lot of bitches; you had better go home"—I went home and came out again, and found the prisoner in custody in Percy Street.

GUILTY . — Nine Months' Hard Labour.